464 HUNTING. 



When the master gives the word to draw, they 

 should approach the cover at a gentle trot, one 

 whipper-in riding in their front ; and when within 

 about a stone's throw, they may dash into it with 

 as much spirit as they like. Not a word need be 

 said by way of caution, unless it appears to be espe- 

 cially called for, when " gently, there," by the first 

 whipper-in, and one smack of his whip, will gene- 

 rally have the desired effect. But we like to see 

 the huntsman alive at this moment, as well as his 

 hounds. Homer compares hounds cheered by their 

 huntsman, to troops encouraged by a skilful ge- 

 neral ; and doubtless there is a similarity in the 

 effect. Putting hounds out of the question, there 

 is something very cheering to the field in the 

 '' cheering holloo" of a huntsman, when encourag- 

 ing his hounds to draw ; and it also answers two 

 good purposes. Should a hound get wide of the 

 pack, or hang behind in the cover, or should any 

 of the field be at a loss, which often happens in 

 woodlands, the " pipe"' of the huntsman is an un- 

 erring guide to all. How necessary is it, then, at 

 all events how desirable, that, like Ajax, he should 

 be jSoTjv ayoL&hg^ " renowned for the strength of his 

 voice,"' and, we may add, for the melodiousness of 

 it. He should likewise blow a horn well ; and if 

 he varies the blast, to make himself more intelli- 

 gible to his hounds, he will find his advantage in 

 it. We wonder this is not more practised than it 

 is. Independently of the common recheat^ why not 

 have the " view horn" as well as the " view holloo?" 

 But too much horn, like wx et prwterea nihil, is 



